Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

I am now 35 years old and have suffered with various strange issues with my vision...more than I can possibly write in this blog. I will start however with the fact that a blind spot came up in my left eye when I was 17 years old. I had a strobe light on before this happened so I thought it would go away after I slept. I was wrong...It was still there when I woke up the next day. It has since gotten larger and there's quite a bit of vision loss in that area (I call it a butterfly as that's what the shape reminds me of in my lower peripheral in my left eye). Since this I have had migraines with auras which have left residual vision loss as well as more blind spots that come up (some become permanent while others go away over time). I have small bright spots that come up in my vision almost daily that usually fade away over time. I have strange vision when outside in the sun...honecomb rays as I call them (I see these odd rays on white background & in the sky etc). Over the past few weeks I have had several blind spots that have came up in my peripheral in my left eye and I believe they will remain as permanent blind spots. There are other odd things that go on as well but for the sake of not writing a book, these are the basics. I have went to Neurologists, Opthalmologists, NeuroOpthalmologist and had more tests than you can imagine and NO ANSWERS! It's very un-nerving and scary at the thought of what may happen next. I am very interested in hearing from others who may have similar stories. Thanks!

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

During testing, did you have an mri or ct of your brain? I cant believe that those drs let you walk away losing vision!! Have you had an angiogram of your retina? Angiogram of brain? Horrible care. Find someone that has had a visual problem & go to who helped them. Find a research or teaching hospital, a medical school associated with the hospital. They usually have clinics. In a big medical center usually in a large city. Dont mess with suburb type drs. You need a renowned dr in a big city university hospital. So sorry this is happening! God bless you,gmak

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

Thanks! I have had numerous MRIs & MRAs as well as many eye tests, and a CT Scan as well. I have never had any form of an angiogram done however. I have been to a major medical center in our state to see a specialist and still haven't gotten any answers. I tend to get pushed back and forth from dr to dr since no one has answers. I've lost all confidence in getting answers. I feel very hopeless in the matter and don't even know whether there's a dr out there who can give me any kind of answer.

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

I would seek consultation from a hematologist who can test your blood for clotting tendencies. Also an echocardiogram to check for heart valve problems that may be throwing off tiny clots that land in your retinal vessels. Anticardiolipin or antiphospholipid antibodies should be done as that is a common clotting predisposition that affects people along with migraines. It is a blood test. Tiny clots can cause bright spots and blind spots in visual fields. Have you had any of these things checked?

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

Ladybug...I haven't been to a hematologist. The only tests I've had that you mentioned above is an echocardiogram years ago. I'm not sure what dr to consult on the next step I take with things. I feel like all roads lead to dead ends when it comes to trying to find answers!

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

I would see both hematologist and cardiologist for a repeat echo, as they can turn up different things, and tell them your problem with vision and that you want to be sure you are not forming clots in the blood or on the heart valves. They will get it and do the appropriate work-up. Be sure to mention the migraine history as well.

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

[QUOTE=HEARTSY LADY;5083210]Thanks! I have had numerous MRIs & MRAs as well as many eye tests, and a CT Scan as well. I have never had any form of an angiogram done however. I have been to a major medical center in our state to see a specialist and still haven't gotten any answers. I tend to get pushed back and forth from dr to dr since no one has answers. I've lost all confidence in getting answers. I feel very hopeless in the matter and don't even know whether there's a dr out there who can give me any kind of answer.[/QUOTE]




Hi heartsy, :angel:
I wrote you a post last night & i lost it somehow! I wanted to tell you that i think ladybud's ideas are great. I thought that maybe with all the " bouncing around" that no particular optho or neuro is hearing the proverbial "squeaky wheel". So, choose the one dr that you think was the most persistent, see him/her then when referred out & all is normal or you get no answer GO back to the dr you saw first with an attitude of "Next?". And, do that everytime. Hemo, cardio are great & see them. But, dont lose hope & give up. There is something wrong & someone will find it. They think your ok or you would be back. Its not ok, so go back again & again & again. Keep us posted & if you need an ear, or anything let us know. God bless you, gmak

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

Next step is retina specialist n then a new neuro-opthalmologist. Had another through eye exam where all tests were great other than the visual field which shows the original blind spot. The newer ones are farther out so they didn't show up. My opthalmologist says he's gonna do everything possible to atleast try to find answers so that's a plus even though he admits that we may never have answers. I have been to cardiologist as well as several neurologists etc and always get ping ponged around because no one has answers. I'm gonna do everything possible to try to find out what's going on as it is really scary having new spots come up and spread! Thanks to everyone for your advice and support!

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

Dear heartsy, remember after you seeneuro-opthalmologist, if answer not found go back to the retina specialist! Dont give uo after one visit. Go back & back saying not better yet! But, i hope & pray that these drs will have the key! You sound hopeful & thats sooo great to hear. Keep updating. I care that you get this resolved and that you are seeing clearly. Thank you.

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

Just to reiterate, please get some some blood tests done for clotting tendencies, at least an antiphosholipid antibody (anticardiolipin antibody).

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

Heartsy lady, what is the state of your optic nerve? Has glaucoma been ruled out as a cause of your problem? If there is damage to the optic nerve that may be the cause. Sometimes poor circulation in the eye can cause the optic nerve to be sick and glaucoma to set in. The retina specialist should be able to tell you if the optic nerve looks healthy or not. Be sure to ask!

The fact that you get migraines can point to blood flow problems to the eye. There are also simple, non-invasive tests that measure the blood flow/oxygen level to the retina (angiogram not needed). One is done with a doppler sonogram; the other by a computer. But run-of-the-mill doctors won't have this equipment. You MUST go to the top drs as a previous poster mentioned, ones connected to a teaching & research university.

It's sad that you've been bounced back & forth from one to another doctor without any clarity as to cause. I hope you get some answers soon!!

Good luck!

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

Hi heartsy, yes, positively listen to ladybud's advice! I, in no way, was trying to supercede her excellent, knowledable advice or caring reply. I really just wanted to encourage you to see it through to the end and if still no answers, go back & back again like i stated before. I hope & pray that this time will be different for you & it appears as though so far, that you are getting appts with highly specialized drs that know more than before & will keep trying. And, you will keep trying! Thinking of you, heartsy, during this time. We are praying & pulling for you! Thank you

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

Just a quick note for all who have commented...I will be going to a retina specialist tomorrow. I will fill everyone in as to what tests they do then & what I find out. I have had tests on my retina in the past at Wake Forest Eye Center (Baptist Hospital here in NC) and they didn't find anything so we'll see how this goes...technology has advanced since then. I have had many tests on my eyes from ultrasounds and on and on and nothing's been found. I will check in to the blood test and other tests mentioned above. Thanks to everyone for their advice and support. Will update later in the week. Hope you all have a Wonderful, Blessed Thanksgiving!!!

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

[QUOTE=HEARTSY LADY;5092257]Just a quick note for all who have commented...I will be going to a retina specialist tomorrow. I will fill everyone in as to what tests they do then & what I find out. I have had tests on my retina in the past at Wake Forest Eye Center (Baptist Hospital here in NC) and they didn't find anything so we'll see how this goes...technology has advanced since then. I have had many tests on my eyes from ultrasounds and on and on and nothing's been found. I will check in to the blood test and other tests mentioned above. Thanks to everyone for their advice and support. Will update later in the week. Hope you all have a Wonderful, Blessed Thanksgiving!!![/QUOTE]

Dear heartsy, Thank you for the blessings and the same to you, have a Wonderful, Blessed Thanksgiving as well. Still praying for you & tonight it will be for the answer, Someone knows & can see exactly what is wrong. Praying that he will be in charge of your care & testing tomorrow. Thank you for the update. Will be waiting to hear Thank you, heartsy!gmak :angel:

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So after going to the retina specialist & having various tests including an angiogram, everything having to do with mu eyes has been ruled out once again so still no answers & on an even more down side...more blind spots :-( I really don't know what's going on or where to go for answers. I've been ping ponged around so much & even the specialist I just went to suggested optho-neuro or my neurologist which have ping ponged me around already! So no answers and worsening of vision problems. I also have weird jumpy vision which is hard to explain and very unsettling! It's all so stressful :-(

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

[QUOTE=HEARTSY LADY;5097809]So after going to the retina specialist & having various tests including an angiogram, everything having to do with mu eyes has been ruled out once again so still no answers & on an even more down side...more blind spots :-( I really don't know what's going on or where to go for answers. I've been ping ponged around so much & even the specialist I just went to suggested optho-neuro or my neurologist which have ping ponged me around already! So no answers and worsening of vision problems. I also have weird jumpy vision which is hard to explain and very unsettling! It's all so stressful :-([/QUOTE]

Oh heartsy, no. Certainly, they did not release you like this! They could see by the testing that you have blind spots, yes? Oh, honey i know you are so disappointed. Im disappointed. The retina specialist is the one that suggested the neurologist? I know that you want to give up but, its worsening. What if theres a time element? Please can you go back to the dr who sent you to the retina specialist? He will be getting the reports from there, surely they all cant be normal! At least tell him that this is not solved & ask what he makes of the testing & make sure that he has a report on everything from everywhere that you have had done. Please go or at least
call & talk to the dr himself & say what do you make of this & tell him,
please? Im so sorry but consider seeing the first guy again, gmak :( you :(
me

Ps. Looked back @ this thread @ saw that your opthalmologist wanted you to see the retina specialist then a neuro opthalmologist, then back to
opthalmologist. Im confused, please forgive me, did you see the neuro
opthalmologist yet? Also you saw the cardiologist, but did anyone do the antiphospholipid antibody blood test that ladybud suggested? She is brilliant & when she says jump i say how high! She has helped me so much.

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

Sorry for not updating sooner.
Retina specialist says everything is fine from an eye standpoint. The opthalmologists suggest I go back to nero-opthalmolgist. Going back soon although it's sure to b a waste of time and money. Since my last appointment to opthalmologist, I've developed more vision loss in left eye (I now have 6 areas of blind spots at the present time). I also have distorted vision in both eyes (looks as though things are hazy and moving when looking at objects, pics etc). So things just keep getting worse and I'm not sure what step to take next!

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

[QUOTE=HEARTSY LADY;5128457]Sorry for not updating sooner.
Retina specialist says everything is fine from an eye standpoint. The opthalmologists suggest I go back to nero-opthalmolgist. Going back soon although it's sure to b a waste of time and money. Since my last appointment to opthalmologist, I've developed more vision loss in left eye (I now have 6 areas of blind spots at the present time). I also have distorted vision in both eyes (looks as though things are hazy and moving when looking at objects, pics etc). So things just keep getting worse and I'm not sure what step to take next![/QUOTE]

Dear heartsy, Hi! I have prayed for you & have wondered how you are. Have you been to Duke university eye center? Have these eye drs tested you for systemic disease like diabetes etc & with all the specialists upon specialists that you have been referred to has all this testing taken place at a large teaching hospital associated with a major medical school & is there more than one of the university teaching hospitals that has an eye clinic? Im so sorry that you have lost more vision, i dont understand yes they can tell you have lost vision but cannot locate the cause right? I really want to encourage you not to give up hope, what diagnosis have you received so far?

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

So sorry to hear that your visual loss is continuing. Since these seem to be peripheral, are your glaucoma pressures normal? I would seriously consider going to the Mayo clinic in Rochester, MN. They get you in on a Mon or Tues and have it figured out by Fri. No bouncing around, everyone is focused on finding the diagnosis and coming up with a treatment plan in a 5 day period or less. I have been there and was truly impressed with the whole system and the efficiency and professionalism of the Drs and staff.

Re: Blind Spots In Peripheral Vision
 

I have had similar spots fro many years now. There has been times when driving behind a car in front of me that if looking straight ahead, it looks as though it has no left wheel. I was getting bright shimmering flashes to a point that it was almost blinding.
It was finally determined that it was vascular and was a type of migrain coming on. I was issued a RX by the name of Fiorinal. When seeing the onset of the blind spots or shimmers, I could take a Fiorinal and it would go away.
Just two days ago, I woke up to find that I had a dark area in my right eye. At first I thought it was something on my eyeglass lens, it was not. Today i went to see my eye doctor. He is actually a surgeon and they teach other doctors from around the area new procedures. He examined my eyes for several minutes and told me he could not see anything. He then got up and said he wanted to try another thing.
He used a sort-of headlamp with some sort of magnifying lens and looked into my eyes again while instructing me to look in different directions. All of a sudden, I saw something red when he looked into my right eye. He moved the magnifier a bit more around my eye and I could actually see blood spatters similar to watching a crime scene on TV where someone had been shot leaving spatters on the wall.
He said "There it is, you were right". I apparently have blood spatters from something that darkened out my vision. He scheduled me to see a retinal specialist in a few days.
A little history:
I have cataracts but they are not ready to remove. I also see double, one on top of the other causing me to need a prism in my eye glasses. Now I find out that the muscles in my right eye are getting weaker letting my right eye rotate slightly. This is giving me fits. I can start reading something on the computer and at the left of the sentence it is OK, about mid way the sentence begins to separate, forming two lines that start in a "V" shape from the left.
I am having difficulty reading the large green road signs over the streets. I am on all kinds of blood thinners because of heart attacks, heart surgeries and strokes. You know, I have a feeling that my eyesight won't be around too much longer. I can't complain though because God has been good to me. I have had 3 open heart surgeries, 3 heart attacks, 2 strokes, 19 heart caths and have 11 stints. I am also on my 2nd Pacemaker/Defibrillator. I have been blessed with warnings that prevented me from dying and I still get around good and can wear a healthy person out.
My Wife is scared half to death... I keep telling her that what ever happens is beyond our control and I am OK with that. If the doctors can do something I will be very grateful to them but mostly to God.:angel:

Ed